The next time Noah nudged him, he was surprised to see they’d arrived at Lord Fleming’s manor house. It was a handsome stone house with three stories and plenty of windows to let in the light. The grounds were beautifully landscaped, with rolling meadows beyond the formal garden.
The carriage stopped, and a footman opened the door. “Welcome to Fleming Manor, gentlemen.”
Two other footmen collected their bags, which were strapped to the back of the carriage, and brought them inside. The three friends got out of the carriage and walked to the front door.
A portly gentleman with dark hair and ruddy cheeks greeted them when the butler opened the door. “You’ve finally arrived. I was beginning to despair over your arrival,” he said.
“Fleming,” Robertson said with a nod. “We had to make a stop along the way, and it caused a slight delay in our trip.”
Noah and Miles greeted their host.
“Do come in,” Fleming said. “Care for a brandy before tea?”
The last thing Robertson wanted today was more liquor. “I’ll pass.”
“Me too,” Miles said.
Noah, ever jovial, said, “I’ll take you up on that offer.”
“Excellent. Gentlemen, follow me to the parlor. Some of the other guests arrived a short time ago and will be down shortly to join us for tea,” Lord Fleming said.
“I’ll join you in a moment. I need a bit of air after being cooped up in the carriage,” Robertson said, stepping off the porch.
“Totally understand. I’ll see you inside,” Lord Fleming said, leading Noah and Miles into the house.
Robertson’s driver steered the horses in the direction of the stables while he strode off toward the gardens.
***
Olivia looked around theguest room she’d been assigned. It was a lovely room painted in blue and cream with an expansive view of the beautiful garden below. The rose bushes were in full bloom, and the paths were lined with flowers bursting with color. Beyond the garden were rolling hills and meadows as far as the eye could see. She loved to walk and hoped to enjoy more of the outdoors this week. She was glad that Bett had been given the room next to hers. It made her feel safe, especially since her nerves were already on edge. This was the first time she’d left the estate since her marriage to Armstrong, and to make matters worse, she’d never been to a house party before and wasn’t sure what to expect.
Why did I let Bett talk me into this?
This is a bad idea.
I’ll make a fool of myself.
I’m not worthy.
Her lady’s maid, Emma, had nearly finished unpacking her trunk. “Would you like to change for tea, my lady?”
“Yes, I suppose I should get out of this traveling dress.”
Emma went to the armoire and looked through the dresses before pulling out a light-blue silk dress with small puff sleeves and a navy ribbon under thebosom. “This is such a lovely dress. Would you care to wear this?”
“Yes, that’ll be fine, especially since I won’t have to change again for dinner.”
Emma helped Olivia out of her traveling clothes. “Shall I redo your hair as well?”
Olivia reached up and smoothed the few wisps that had come loose from her chignon. “No. I think it’s fine for now.”
After helping Olivia dress, Emma scooped up her traveling dress and half boots, clearly planning to brush off the dirt from the road. “I’ll be back later to help you prepare for bed, my lady.” She curtseyed and exited the room.
Olivia wasn’t sure she wanted to go to dinner this evening. Maybe a tray in her room would be preferable, at least for the first night. She wasn’t sure her nerves could handle both tea and dinner. Baby steps were preferable until she got used to socializing again. Bett was right—it’d been too long since she socialized with anyone, and her stomach was in knots.
She glanced out the window and was surprised to see a tall specimen of a man striding through the garden toward the meadow, his broad shoulders and honey-blond hair striking, even from a distance.. She admired his fine form and long legs. “I wonder who that is,” she murmured,notthat she was the least bitinterested. She wasn’t here to meet anyone and had merely come to support Bett. But something about the power in that stride intrigued her just a little. It never hurt to admire an attractive man.
Olivia turned away from the window and, with one last look in the mirror, left her bedchamber and went to the room next door. There were no other guests in the hallway when she knocked on Bett’s door.
